Skin abrader
The present invention relates to devices, methods, and systems for abrading the skin in preparation for attachment of an electrode. In some embodiments, the invention may provide for a simple, low-cost device 120 with a flat, abrading surface that removes the topmost layer of the skin without causing undue injury.
1. A method of abrading the skin of a mammal via a dermal preparation device in preparation for adhesion of an electrode, comprising:
placing a dermal preparation device on the skin, the dermal preparation device comprising a support layer having an upper surface, a lower surface coated with an abrasive, and a major axis extending through a geometrical center of the support layer and along the longest dimension of the support layer;
wherein the dermal preparation device comprises a gripping layer secured to the upper surface of the support layer, the gripping layer comprising an adhered portion adhered to the support layer, a gripping portion, and a fold between the adhered portion and the gripping portion;
grasping the gripping portion of the dermal preparation device;
applying pressure to the skin through the dermal preparation device;
moving the dermal preparation device in a manner to remove a desirable amount of skin; and
placing a physiological measurement device on the skin, the physiological measurement device configured for adhesive attachment to a mammal.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physiological measurement device is an electrode.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the electrode is configured to measure a physiological parameter.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the physiological parameter is cardiac rhythm data.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising preparing the skin for application of the dermal preparation device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive comprises a polymeric grit with diameters ranging from about 36-66 the abrasive configured to mechanically remove a portion of the stratum corneum of the mammal.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the abrasive uniformly coats the entirety of the lower surface.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dermal preparation device further comprises an outer peripheral edge, the outer peripheral edge curving along the entirety of a circle and having no corners.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring a physiological parameter with the physiological monitoring device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein a desirable amount of skin comprises an amount of skin configured to improve the signal quality of the physiological monitoring device.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the support layer is approximately circular and the major axis is a diameter of the circle.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the major axis is no more than about 2.5 inches long.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the major axis is no more than about 2.0 inches long.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the support layer is sufficiently flexible that when pressed against a dermal surface using the gripping portion, the lower surface will deform into a convex surface against the dermal surface.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion is a handle.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the handle is bonded to the support layer along a bond which extends at least about 50% of a maximum dimension of the support layer, along an axis of the bond.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the axis of the bond is substantially parallel to the major axis.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the handle is bonded to the support layer along a bond which extends at least about 85% of a maximum dimension of the support layer, along an axis of the bond.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the handle gripping layer is bonded to the support layer by a bond which covers at least about 15% of a total area of the upper surface of the support layer.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the handle gripping layer is bonded to the support layer by a bond which covers at least about 35% of a total area of the upper surface of the support layer.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dermal preparation device is separate from the physiological measurement device.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion extends above the upper surface of the support layer.